Environmental Research :: Northern Rivers Department of Rural Health

Northern Rivers Department of Rural Health - Australia

Environmental Research

Spatial analysis of social and enviornmental factors influencing childhood leukaemia, birth outcome and deliberate self-harm

Beard J, Morgan G, Bryan B, Tuffin S, Muscatello D

This Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project will develop and pilot new methods in the field of spatial analysis in enviornmental health. The project will link routinely collected health, enviornment and socio-demographic databases to examine associations between various social and environmental factors and childhood leukaemia, birth outcomes and deliberate self-harm. The project will develop tools to accurately geocode these data, assess exposures using Geogrpahic Information Systems, and develop expertise in spatial epidemiological analysis. The NRUDRH is leading the project, which is part of a national collaboration involving the University of Adelaide, the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and New South Wales Health.

Contact: Dr Geoff Morgan, Epidemiologist on 61 2 6620 7526 or email geoff.morgan@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

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Associations between Ross River Fever, Mosquito Numbers and Environmental Factors in Northern New South Wales from 1992 to 2003

Morgan G, Beard J, Jong K, Brooks L

A study of trends and cyclical variations in Ross River Virus and mosquito numbers in the Northern Rivers Area from 1992 to 2003. The study also developed a predictive model for the infludence of environmental factors on Ross River Virus prevalence in the Northern Rivers. Such a predictive model could lead to improved environmental measures to reduce mosquito numbers and more effective public health campaigns to reduce the incidence of Ross River Virus.

Contact: Dr Geoff Morgan, Epidemiologist on 61 2 6620 7526 or email geoff.morgan@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

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Sydney February asthma episode study

Lincoln D, Morgan G, Sheppeard V, Jalaludin B, Beard J, Corbett S

February is the month with most variability for asthma admissions for children to Sydney hospitals, and in some years accounts for the most admissions in a month. It is postulated that this variability is related to a number of environmental, infectious and social factors, centering on the end of summer and the return to school. This New South Wales Health funded study will develop a statistical model to predict which years are likely to experience a February asthma outbreak. Such a predictive model would facilitate preventive measures such as warnings to increase prophylactic medication. The study will also aim to improve understanding of the environmental precipitants and inform potential prospective and intervention studies of the outbreaks.

Contact: Dr Geoff Morgan, Epidemiologist on 61 2 6620 7526 or email geoff.morgan@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

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The health effect of air pollution from bushfire episodes in Sydney

Morgan G, Ayyar A, Lincoln D, Sheppeard V, Jalaludin B, , Corbett S

Sydney has unique data on major bushfire episodes in 1994 and 2001. These bushfire episodes exposed four (4) million people to extreme ambient concentrations of particulate air pollution over an area with extensive air pollution monitoring. These data can be used to investigate important questions including the effects of air pollution on mortality and duration of life lost due to air pollution, and the relative importance of bushfire/hazard reduction particulate pollution on daily mortality and hospital admissions.

Contact: Dr Geoff Morgan, Epidemiologist on 61 2 6620 7526 or email geoff.morgan@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au